RTI activist, who took on illegal constructions, shot dead

October 17, 2016

Mumbai, Oct 17: A Right to Information (RTI) activist was shot dead at his house in Kalina on Saturday night. Bhupendra Vira (72), who was known for taking on illegal constructions in his area, was shot by an assailant on his temple between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

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“His wife was present in the house, but was in another room, while he was watching television. We have launched a manhunt for the accused. Motive of the murder is yet to be clear,” said Virendra Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone VIII.

Mr. Mishra said the police are inquiring whether Mr. Vira had filed an FIR or complaint against anyone or had complained to the police about any possible threat to his life. “A murder case has been registered against unknown persons, and a few people are being questioned. No arrests have been made as of now.”

According to sources, Mr. Vira was pursuing cases of illegal constructions against an ex-corporator, and had opposed the nexus of civic officials and politicians.

In a letter to State Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on Sunday, former Chief Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi asked him to take immediate steps to stop violence against RTI activists.

“I request you to direct public authorities with whom Mr. Vira’s RTI applications are pending to immediately release all information which he had sought. He had been filing RTI applications seeking information from the BMC, SRA and the Lokayukta. Directions must also be given to the police to provide security to his family,” said the letter by Mr. Gandhi.

Mr. Vira was a member of the Voice of Kalina ALM, which takes up issues related to illegal constructions, land-grabbing and encroachments.

“We all are victims of land encroachments. He was deeply involved in this fight. He had even secured an order from the Lokayukta to demolish illegal constructions, but nothing happened as civic officials kept the issue pending,” said Clarence Pinto, member of the ALM, adding that the victim had filed several complaints at Vakola police station. Mr. Pinto said Mr. Vira had finally tasted success on Saturday morning as the authorities had issued notices of demolition. “We all are living in danger as land mafia may target us. We need to come together and we expect the Mumbai police to immediately arrest the culprit.”

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Agencies
May 24,2020

Bijnor, May 24: A man died after he was attacked by his cousins, allegedly for not getting tested for the Coronavirus after his return from Delhi.

The incident took place in Malakpur village in Bijnor district.

Manjeet Singh (23) died on Friday during treatment in Meerut.

A FIR has now been registered against Manjeet's cousins, Kapil and Manoj, their mother Puniya and Manoj's wife Dolly at the Nahtaur police station on a complaint filed by the father of the deceased Kalyan Singh on Sunday.
SHO, Nahtaur police station, Satya Prakash Singh said that no arrests have been made yet.

According to reports, Manjeet died due to head injuries.
His sample was not collected for a Coronavirus test by doctors during treatment.
Additional SP, Bijnor, Sanjay Kumar said, he underwent thermal screening when he reached Bijnor on May 19 from Delhi. The report was negative so his sample was not collected.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performs 'rudrabhishek' for safety from COVID-19
SHO Satya Prakash Singh said, "Since his return, Kapil and Manoj were regularly asking Manjeet to get his test done. On Thursday, the cousins again asked Manjeet to get his test done after which an argument ensued between them."

"The accused brought sticks and started hitting Manjeet. He suffered injuries on the head and shoulder. When Manjeet fell unconscious, he was rushed to government hospital by his parents where he succumbed to injuries a day later," said Singh.

Chief Medical Officer, Bijnor, Dr Vijay Yadav said he has "no information" about the matter.

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News Network
July 19,2020

Thane, Jul 19: A 34-year-old man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly killing his wife after picking up a fight as he did not like the food she cooked, Thane police said.

Sachin Godane, a resident of Gaikwad Pada in Ambernath, locked his two children and an aunt in one room of the house on Friday afternoon and brutally beat up his wife Chandrakala (28) with a log and then strangled her, said Assistant Inspector JB Bhoyer of Shivajinagar police station.

Godane has been remanded in police custody for four days, he added. 

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Agencies
February 11,2020

Mumbai, Feb 11: A 65-year-old woman was allegedly killed by her husband over debt and illness in suburban Powai here, police said on Tuesday.

The incident came to light when Sheela Ajit Lad was found dead by her neighbours at Sukh Shanti Co-operative Society at around 9.30 pm on Monday, an official said.

The victim was allegedly killed by her husband Ajit Lad, who hit her on the head with a heavy object, slit her wrists and strangled her to death, he said.

The accused absconded at around 7.30 pm, leaving a note at the crime scene, saying he was going to commit suicide and had killed his wife because he was heavily in debt and she was suffering from an ailment, the official said.

The childless couple lived alone in the apartment, he added.

"On the basis of the note, we have registered a case of murder against Ajit Lad and have launched a manhunt for him. We have not traced him or found his body as he had mentioned suicide in the note," deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Zone X Ankit Goyal said.

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